A combined ultrasonic and hf surgical system as well as a control device and a method thereof

Abstract

A combined ultrasonic and surgical system, a control device for controlling such a combined ultrasonic and surgical system and a method for operating a combined ultrasonic and surgical system. The system includes an ultrasonic generator having a generation unit for providing an excitation signal by which an ultrasonic converter can generate an ultrasonic vibration, a generator for providing an energy at two output contacts, and a control unit adapted to control the ultrasonic generator and/or the generator, such that the excitation signal and the energy are provided in a coordinated fashion, such that the energy is provided in dependency of the excitation signal, wherein an energy is modulated with the frequency of the excitation signal or with a harmonic of that frequency.

1 . A combined ultrasonic and HF surgical system, comprising
 an ultrasonic generator having a generation unit for providing an excitation signal by which an ultrasonic converter can generate an ultrasonic vibration,   a HF generator for providing a HF energy at two output contacts, and   a control unit adapted to control the ultrasonic generator and/or the HF generator, such that the excitation signal and the HF energy are provided in a coordinated fashion, such that the HF energy is provided in dependency of the excitation signal, wherein a HF energy is modulated with the frequency of the excitation signal or with a harmonic of that frequency.   
     
     
         2 . A combined ultrasonic and HF surgical system according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the control unit comprises a synchronization unit which is adapted to
 receive the excitation signal from the ultrasonic generator, 
 generate at least one synchronized modulation signal in dependency of the excitation signal, and 
 output the modulation signal to the HF generator. 
   
     
     
         3 . A combined ultrasonic and HF surgical system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is adapted to control the ultrasonic generator and/or the HF generator, such that a HF energy is modulated with a harmonic, in particular with the double or treble frequency of the excitation signal. 
     
     
         4 . A combined ultrasonic and HF surgical system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is adapted to control the ultrasonic generator and/or the HF generator, such that HF energy is provided with a first amplitude and/or with a first frequency at a time when an instrument, which is moved by the ultrasonic vibration, and/or the excitation signal is at a turning point, and that HF energy is provided with a second amplitude, which is smaller than the first amplitude, and/or with a second frequency, which is smaller than the first frequency, at a time when the instrument, which is moved by the ultrasonic vibration, and/or the excitation signal is between two turning points. 
     
     
         5 . A combined ultrasonic and HF surgical system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is adapted to control the ultrasonic generator and/or the HF generator, such that HF energy is provided with a first amplitude and/or with a first frequency at a time when an instrument, which is moved by the ultrasonic vibration, and/or the excitation signal is between two turning points, and such that HF energy is provided with a second amplitude, which is smaller than the first amplitude, and/or with a second frequency, which is smaller than the first frequency, at a time when the instrument, which is moved by the ultrasonic vibration, and/or the excitation signal is at a turning point. 
     
     
         6 . A combined ultrasonic and HF surgical system, according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is adapted to control the ultrasonic generator and/or the HF generator, such that HF energy is provided with a first amplitude and/or with a first frequency at a time when an instrument, which is moved by the ultrasonic vibration, and/or the excitation signal is at a first turning point, and that HF energy is provided with a second amplitude, which is smaller than the first amplitude, and/or with a second frequency, which is smaller than the first frequency, at a time when the instrument, which is moved by the ultrasonic vibration, and/or the excitation signal is at a second turning point or between two turning points. 
     
     
         7 . A combined ultrasonic and HF surgical system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is adapted to control the ultrasonic generator and/or the HF generator, such that HF energy is provided with a first amplitude and/or with a first frequency at a time when an instrument, which is moved by the ultrasonic vibration, has no or a low moving velocity, and that HF energy is provided with a second amplitude, which is smaller than the first amplitude, and/or with a second frequency, which is smaller than the first frequency, at a time when the instrument, which is moved by the ultrasonic vibration, has a high moving velocity. 
     
     
         8 . A combined ultrasonic and HF surgical system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is adapted to control the ultrasonic generator and/or the HF generator, such that HF energy is provided with a first amplitude and/or with a first frequency at a time when an instrument, which is moved by the ultrasonic vibration, has a high moving velocity, and that HF energy is provided with a second amplitude, which is smaller than the first amplitude, and/or with a second frequency, which is smaller than the first frequency, at a time when the instrument, which is moved by the ultrasonic vibration, has a lower or no moving velocity. 
     
     
         9 . A combined ultrasonic and HF surgical system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is adapted to control the ultrasonic generator and/or the HF generator, such that HF energy is provided with a first amplitude and/or with a first frequency at a time when an instrument, which is moved by the ultrasonic vibration, accelerates its moving velocity, and that HF energy is provided with a second amplitude, which is smaller than the first amplitude, and/or with a second frequency, which is smaller than the first frequency, at a time when an instrument, which is moved by the ultrasonic vibration, decelerates its moving velocity. 
     
     
         10 . A combined ultrasonic and HF surgical system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is adapted to control the ultrasonic generator and/or the HF generator, such that HF energy is provided with a first amplitude and/or with a first frequency at a time when an instrument, which is moved by the ultrasonic vibration, decelerates its moving velocity, and that HF energy is provided with a second amplitude, which is smaller than the first amplitude, and/or with a second frequency, which is smaller than the first frequency, at a time when an instrument, which is moved by the ultrasonic vibration, accelerates its moving velocity. 
     
     
         11 . A combined ultrasonic and HF surgical system according to  claim 1 , wherein the modulation of a HF energy is executed as an amplitude modulation by
 modifying the activation time of a switch provided for feeding a resonant circuit, or   cyclically switching the HF energy substantially on and off.   
     
     
         12 . A combined ultrasonic and HF surgical system according to  claim 1 , wherein the modulation of a HF energy is executed as a frequency modulation by
 varying a capacity included in a resonant circuit for frequency modulation, or   switching between at least two operating frequencies.   
     
     
         13 . A control device for controlling a combined ultrasonic and HF surgical system according to  claim 1 , comprising
 a control unit adapted to control an ultrasonic generator and/or a HF generator, such that an excitation signal, by which an ultrasonic converter can generate an ultrasonic vibration, and the HF energy are provided in a coordinated fashion, such that the HF energy is provided in dependency of the excitation signal, wherein the HF energy is modulated with the frequency of the excitation signal or with a harmonic of that frequency.   
     
     
         14 . A method for operating a combined ultrasonic and HF surgical system according to  claim 1 , comprising
 providing an excitation signal, by which an ultrasonic converter can generate an ultrasonic vibration, and   providing a HF energy,   
       wherein the provision of the excitation signal and the HF energy takes place in a coordinated fashion, such that the HF energy is provided in dependency of the excitation signal, wherein a HF energy is modulated with the frequency of the excitation signal or with a harmonic of that frequency.